There is plenty of choice when it comes to movies in New York. Film fanatics
have the chance to see the latest US blockbusters many months in advance of
other countries. New York is the testing ground for new movies and ideas,
many of the major American films make sure they have their premiere screened
in Manhattan's theaters. A good review for a new movie can mean a big payday
of millions of dollars.Some of the cinemas that host the premieres in New
York are the City Cinema chains, Loews, Cineplex Odeon and United
Artists.Many of the biggest movie directors, including Martin Scorsese and
Woody Allen were born and raised in New York. The city has had a big impact
on their lives and this is reflected in some of their movies. It isn't
unusual to see directors filming new movies on a regular basis on the
streets of New York and the city's landmarks have appeared time and time
again in many hit blockbusters.
Movies start at around 10am with repeat showings every two or three hours
until midnight. Queues are likely for many of the performances, especially
at evenings and weekends and it is usually a good idea to book your tickets
over the phone with a credit card - there is a surcharge of $1 per ticket
for this. An ideal time to go to the movies from a tourists point of view
would be the afternoon - matinee performances are less crowded as most New
Yorkers are at work and the children are at school. Discounts for senior
citizens are available depending on the policy of Theater - usually over
the ages of 60, 62 or 65.
In New York many of the television networks offer free tickets to go and
watch a show being recorded live - a popular one with many visitors is the
David Letterman Show, although tickets for these live recordings are nearly
impossible to get hold of. Tickets for Saturday Night Live at the NBC
studios are more readily available from the NBC desk in the Rockefeller
Center. The Times Square Visitors Information Bureau is another good source
for free tickets. If you happen to be in the area of the Rockefeller Plaza
on Fifth Avenue on a weekday morning, you may be lucky enough to get tickets
for one of the TV programs. Production staff sometimes hand these out - this
is just a matter of pot luck and being in the right time at the right place
and isn't something you can anticipate. There are some behind the scenes
tours of TV, NBC has studio tours available from 9am to 4pm Monday to
Saturday.
The New York Film Festival is one of the most important dates on the
calendar in the movie world - this runs for two weeks, starting in late
September. The films from the US and abroad compete against each other for
the prestigious awards and are usually released at a later date. The
Angelika Film Center is one of the many places to view the latest foreign
and independent films - 6 screens and a classy coffee bar here. Others
include the Lincoln Plaza Cinema and the Rose Cinemas, which has 4 screens.
The Asia Society screens the latest Indian, Chinese and Asian releases and
French films with English subtitles are screened at the French Institute.
The more rare, foreign films are screened at the Quad Cinema. The Walter
Reade Theater screens international movies as well as the popular Spanish
Cinema Now festival. Book tickets in advance, especially at weekends and
arrive early for the new releases.
Film memorabilia is on display at the American Museum of the Moving Image -
old films are also screened here.Classic films are often screened at the
Museum of Television and Radio as well as in Bryant Park during the summer
evenings.
Listings for the movies on offer can be found in the New York Magazine, The
New Yorker, The New York Times and Village Voice.
The Internet is a good resource for movie times and venues: www.movietickets.com
Film Classifications for the United States:
No children under 17 admitted -NC-17 Some content unsuitable for children under 13 - Parental guidance
advised -PG-13
Restricted viewing. Children under 17 must be accompanied by parent or
guardian -R Some content unsuitable for children. Parental guidance advised -PG All ages allowed - General audience -G
Over the years New York locations have appeared in many great films:
Marathon Man and Love Story - featured Central Park
Year of the Dragon - featured Chinatown
Godfather I and II - featured Little Italy
Barefoot in the Park - featured Washington Square Park
Sleepless in Seattle and King Kong - both featured the Empire State
Building.
Contact Information:
Tickets for TV recordings:
NBC desk at the Rockefeller Center
Tel: 664 4000
ABC:
67th Street and Columbus Avenue
Tel: 456-3537
CBS:
524 West 57th Street
Tel: 975-2476
Moviefone:
Tel: 777-FILM
Cinemas:
Quad Cinema:
34 W 13th Street
Tel: 225-2243
Angelika Film Center:
18 W Houston Street
Tel: 995-2000
Rose Cinemas:
Tel: (718) 623-2770
Cinema Village:
22 E 12th Street
Tel: 924-3363
Film Forum:
209 W Houston Street
Tel: 727-8110
Whitney Museum of American Art:
945 Madison Avenue
Tel: 570-3600
Rockefeller Plaza:
47th - 50th Street
5th Avenue
Public Theater:
425 Lafayette Street
Tel: 539-8500
New York Film Festival:
Tel: 875-5600
Museum of Television and Radio:
25 W 52nd Street
Tel: 621-6600
Museum of Modern Art:
11 W 53rd Street
Tel: 708-9480
Lincoln Plaza Cinema:
1886 Broadway
Tel: 757-2280
French Institute:
55 E 59th Street
Tel: 355-6160
Asia Society:
725 Park Avenue:
Tel: 517-2742
Anthology Film Archives:
32 2nd Avenue at 2nd Street
Tel: 505-5181
American Museum of the Moving Image:
35th Avenue and 36th Street
Astoria
Queens
Tel: (718) 784-0077
American Museum of Natural History:
Central Park W at 79th Street
Tel: 769-5650
